Self supporting hose



June 20, 1933. e. ABRAHAM r 1,914,794

SELF SUPPORT ING HOSE Filed Nov. 18, 1952 5 2 I @INVE TOR Patented June 20, 1933 PATENT OFFICE GABRIEL ABRAHAM, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SE LF SUPPORTING HOSE Application filed November 18, 1932. Serial No. 643,137.

This invention relates to self supporting hose or leg coverings including supporting means preferably permanently associated therewith.

One object-of the invention is to provide a device of the character described-having improved means for supporting the hose, and furtherto provide such means in preferably permanent association with the hose.

Another object of the invention is-the provision of a hose having an elastic element, said hose being of such improved shape and construction as to afford a snug fitting engagement and'effective supporting action at the region of the calf of the leg; said hose being inexpensive to manufacture, convenient to use, comfortable, neat in appearance, reliable and efiicient.

Other objects and advantages of the inventionwill become apparent as the specification proceeds.

lVith the aforesaid objects in View, the invention consists in the novel combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter de- -2 5 scribed in their" preferred embodiments,

pointed out in the subjoined claims, and illustrated on the annexed drawing, wherein like parts are designated by the same refer ence charactersthroughout the several views.

In the drawing: v

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a deviceembodying the invention, showing the same applied to a leg; I

Fig. 2is an enlarged fragmentary view of I the same.

Fig. isa plan view of a pocket forming blank.

, Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of the device in course of manufacture with the blank applied to a hose.

Fig. 5 is a. sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a top planview of a modification of the invention.

Fig. 7 is a front view of'a fastening ele ment shown in Fig. 6.

The advantages of the invention as here outlined are best realized when all of its instrumentalities are combined in one and the samestructure, but, useful devices maybe produced embodying less than the whole.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art I to which this invention appertains, that the same may be incorporated in several different constructions. The accompanying drawing, therefore, is submitted 'merely as showing the preferred exemplification of the invention.

Referring in detail tothe drawing, 10 denotes a device embodying the invention, showing the same applied to a leg 11. The device includes a hose 12 which may be of any conventional kind, the lower portion of which may be closely'knitted, and the upper portion 13 of which may be coarsely knitted, so as to afford a maximum stretchability. The upper portion may have the longitudinal ribbed eflect. r

, Thehose 12 is different from those heretofore known in that it includes a concave pocket portion l i at the rear upper portion thereof for receiving and engaging over the calf of the leg. The pocket may have side wall portions 15 terminating as at 16 at spaced points near the front of the hose and exerting a rearward and upward pull thereon as illustrated by the deflected rib lines 17 The upper edge of the combined hose and pocket lies along an angle, and an elastic band 18 is continuously connected to the same along said angle so as to engage over the calf, whereby the elastic band, in association with said pocket, reliably embraces the leg for supporting action. The hose and pocket are both made of stretchable material so as to permit the benefit of maximum elasticity to be obtained from the elastic band, in order that the operation of applying the hose to the leg shall be facilitated.

While the device 10 may be made of a single piece of material, except for the elastic element, which may be omitted, if desired, nevertheless it is preferred to make .the pocket of a separate part such as a blank 19. The latter also serves to clearly illustrate the principle of the invention. I

The blank 19 is of generally elliptical form, and includes upper and lower curved edges 20, 21, the end portions 22 of the blank being of generally tapering form that may terminate in any lines 23. It may be made of any suitable fabric or even elastic material.

The blank 19 may be connected at two or more points to any hose, but one advantage of the invention may be best perceived by considering a hose having a straight upper edge 24 such as is formed in making the stocking on a circular knitting machine. See Fig. 4. The lower edge 21 of the blank is con- Iiected as by continuous stitching 25 with the edge of the hose, so as to form a concave pocket at the rear of the hose, with the edges of side walls 15 tapering frontward, so that the end portions 22 lie in proximity to the front of the stocking. Then the upper portion of the attached blank 19 is folded inward and downward, as along a line 26, and the front edge portion 27 of hose is folded inward and downward so as to partially overlie the corners 22. Referring to Fig. 2, an end of the blank'is shown at 28 and an edge of the infolded hose portion 27 is shown at 29. A continous elastic band 18 is applied, and the infolded portions secured as by a continuous line of stitching 30, thus forming an endless hem 31 in which the elastic band is secured. Due to the infolding of the hose portion 27, the upper edge of the device may have a slight upward curvature as shown at 32. The ribs in the fabric of the hem at the inner and outer walls thereof are preferably gen erally parallel topermit the requisite degree of stretching.

The hem 31 constitutes a reenforcement having some degree of elasticity, and this hem together with the elastic band, or even independently thereof, tends to support the hose. However, the best results are obtained by coordination of the pocket 14 and the elastic band, where the pocket receives and engages over'the'calf of the leg and the elastic band extends over the calf and exerts an upward pull on the front of the hose. This supporting action is supplemented by a lateral and upward pull on the hose as at 16, 17, due to the elliptical character of the blank of which the pocket 14 is made. The pocket itself affords a large area for snugly engaging the fleshy part of the leg below the knee and hence supplements the supporting action of the elastic band and prevents any unusual pull from being so suddenly communicated thereto as to tend to dislodge the band from its holdingposition at the calf.

The angularity of the elastic band may be practiced with different kinds and shapes of hose, but the construction shown affords a considerable saving in material, and the elastic band is as high as possible. I

It will be noted that while the line 24 shown in Fig. 2 is horizontal, that shown in Fig. 1 is inclined at a slight angle due to the filling of the calf into the pocket and adjacent parts of the hose. While the size of the pocket 14 is shown as somewhat greater in Fig. 1 than in Fig. 2, it will be clear that the same can be varied to suit.

In Figs. 6 and 7 is shown a modification of the invention including a hem portion 33 which may be applied in the device 10 or which may be used on an end of a stocking above the knee. This hem portion houses end portions of an elastic band 34, which end portions are secured at 35 and extend outward through an opening 36 in the hemmed portion at the frontof the stocking. The projecting part of the elastic band includes a loop 37, whose sides frictionally pass through narrow slots 38 of a fastening element 39, the end of the loop being stitched at 40 to provide a finger grip 41. The element 39 may -have an open recess 42 parallel to slots 38, and formed with end tongues 43. In operation, to tighten the stocking, the operator grasps 41 and pulls thereon while holding the element .39 against the leg. Then the loop portion 37 is flexed laterally and inserted into recess 42 where it is releasably retained by the tongues 43.

It will be appreciated that various changes and modifications may be made in the device as shown in the drawing, and that the same is submitted in an illustrative and not in a limiting sense, the scope of the invention being'defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A leg covering including a hose terminating below the knee and having its upper end provided with a rear pocket for receiving and engaging the calf of the leg, said pocket and hose having a continuous elastic reenforcement extending along the upper edge of the pocket and hose, said pocket consisting of an elastic material and being connected to the hose at the sides thereof and in spaced relation to the front of the hose.

. 2. A leg covering including a hose terminating below the knee and having its upper end provided with a rear pocket of elastic material for receiving and engaging the calf of'the leg, said pocket being continuously connected to the rear and side portions of the hose and being spaced from the front of the hose, and said pocket having an elastic extending continuously along the upper edge of the pocket and hose whereby the hose can be fully opened to receive the foot and leg and the front portion of the hose is caused to snugly engage the leg under an upward and rearward pull of the pocket.

3. A leg covering including a hose terminating below the knee and having its upper free end portion provided with a pocket at the rear of the hose for engaging the calf of the leg,'an elastic of loop form engaged with the free edge of the hose, and means for adyusting the tension of said elastic.

4. A leg covering including a hose terminating below the knee and having a blank of generally elliptical form secured to the upper end thereof along a side edge of the blank so that the blank forms a concave pocket whose height is'maximum at the rear of the hose, and said pocket having side walls with edges tapering downward and frontward at the sides of the hose and terminating at said sides, and an elastic loop band continuously engaged with the free edge of the hose and the free edge of said blank.

' 5. A leg covering including a hose having an upper portion provided with a rear pocket connected thereto for receiving and engaging the calf of the leg, said pocket terminating at points at the sides of the hose, a reenforcement between said points extending rearward along the line of connection of the pocket and hose, and an elastic loop element extending along the free edge of said pocket and the front portion of said hose, said element intersecting said reenforcement at said points.

6. A leg covering including a hose terminating below the knee and having its upper end provided with a rear pocket for receiving and engaging the calf of the leg, said pocket having a continuous wall continuously connected to the rear and side portions of the hose and being spaced from the front of the hose, and an elastic band of loop form engaged with the free edge of the hose and pocket for causing the pocket to snugly embrace the calf and for causing an upward pull on the hose.

7. A leg covering including a hose termi nating below the knee and having its upper end provided with a pocket for receiving and engaging the calf of the leg, said pocket being continuously connected to the rear and side portions of the hose and being spaced from the front of the hose, and loop means connected continuously along the upper edge of the pocket and hose and including an elastic element extending therealong.

8. A leg covering including a hose terminating below the knee and having its upper end provided with a pocket for receiving and engaging the calf of the leg, said pocket being continuously connected to the rear and side portions of the hose and being spaced from the front of the hose, and loop means connected continuously along the upper edge of the pocket and hose and including an elastic element extending therealong, and means for adjusting the tension of the elastic element.

9. A leg covering terminating below the knee and having its upper end terminating along a line downwardly and forwardly inclined so that the rear portion of the hose extends above the front portion thereof, said hose having said rear portion forming a pocket for receiving and engaging the calf of the leg, an elastic element connected to the upper edge of the hose and extending along said edge, and means for adjusting the tension of said elasticelement.

10. A leg covering terminating below the knee and having its upper end terminating along a line downwardly and forwardly inclined so that the rear portion of the hose extends above the front portion thereof, and a reenforcenient connected to the upper inclined edge of the hose and extending substantially continuously along and confined to the region of said edge, said reenforcement including an elastic element, and means for adjusting the tension of said elastic element.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

GABRIEL ABRAHAM. 

